Subject Line When I Have Decided What My Feelings Are Doing

[redbrunja]

Ben Afflect is Batman.

I... am not sure how to react? On the one hand, Ben Afflect. On the other, he was really good in The Town and has a nice chin. I'm not sure if he has the jawline for the role, though.




(Just added a batman tag. I don't know how I feel about that either.)

Natalie Dormer has been cast as Cressida in The Hunger Games. I have no real memory of Cressida, but I whole-heartedly approve of casting Natalie Dormer in ANYTHING that I love, so.

Comments

[errant-shadows.livejournal.com]

I've always found Ben Affleck rather bland. I think he's better as a director than an actor.

Also, I saw Daredevil, and it kind of makes me cringe that he didn't learn his lesson from dabbling in the superhero genre the first time around. Overall, I'm not inclined to be enthusiastic over this.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of people who agree with you.

I've enjoyed enough of the things he's done to at least be interested to see his take on the role.

[errant-shadows.livejournal.com]

Well, I thought he was all right in Dogma, which says a lot considering how long ago that was.

To be honest, when it comes to dubious sci-fi casting decisions, I'm still mourning the choice for the new lead in Doctor Who.

(Which translate as: I may have chucked a minor bitch-fit on Facebook defending my right not to like the new guy. It got messy fast.)

Here's hoping this will turn out better than I'm dreading DW will. I can't get behind that decision at all.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

(Which translate as: I may have chucked a minor bitch-fit on Facebook defending my right not to like the new guy. It got messy fast.)

Tell me more.

[errant-shadows.livejournal.com]

Honestly, my first reaction to the casting choice was vehement disgust - for a lot of reasons I think he's all wrong for the role, and as my absolutely favourite fictional character of all time, the casting of the Doctor is kind of important to me.

I'm a member of a lot of different Doctor Who fan pages on facebook, so naturally when the new casting choice was announced, a whole slew of stuff showed up in my newsfeed. One of the things I've always liked about DW is that the fandom has always had a tendency for being open-minded and accepting - as it should be, since it's one of the core themes of the show. Who cares if you're black, or gay, or atheist - or a thorny red midget cyborg from a galaxy far far away? The point was that none of the superficial differences between us mattered when we were all drawn together by a show about someone who wasn't even human.

So you can imagine my shock when all those DW threads popped up, and anyone who dared display the slightest hint of uncertainty regarding the suitability of PC as the latest Doctor were all abused and scorned and mocked without mercy. It seemed that everything I came across was doing the same thing, and the haters - those in support of PC - automatically assumed it was because of his age (he's 55, more than twice the age of MS when he was cast) and therefore it wasn't a valid reason not to like him, and anyone who didn't like him was stupid, etc.

It went on. And I got pissed, because that's what happens when I'm faced with such intolerance and bullying. So I posted a very long-winded rant on my favourite fan page explaining why I was honestly upset about the reaction - after expressly stating that I wasn't referring to anyone on that page, because while there'd naturally been disagreements before, no one had ever been cruel about it, and I wanted to be clear about that.

Basically, I just said that his age was not the only reason that some people didn't like him, and it was stupid to assume that was the case, and that even if it was the reason, as it was for some, there were still valid reasons for concern. For one thing, some idiots were saying that the lead actors from the classic series were much older - not true! William Hartnell, the First Doctor, was fifty five - the same age as this guy - the oldest ever to be cast in the role, and he retired only a few years later due to serious health concerns. (I really loathe it when people use a point in their argument when they clearly have no idea what they're talking about.)

That's one of the reasons why PC's age is an issue for me - not the only one, and possibly the least important, but it is a point of concern. I've gotten fond of the young-ish Doctors; the energy they bring to the role, the running around like a mad thing, the ancient being with a young man's face. It takes a lot of skill to pull that off, but that's always been one of my favourite things about David Tennant and Matt Smith, and I like the youthful exuberance they bring to the role, in contrast with the Doctor's millennia of experience. I think it keeps the show fresh, and just seeing an old man acting like an old man wouldn't be as interesting.

Also, there is a lot of running involved and it's very physically demanding - something even the younger actors can struggle with, so I think it's fair to be concerned that working around an older guy in the lead could change the show in ways I won't like, and he just won't be able to keep up with the pace.

[errant-shadows.livejournal.com]

My primary reason for not liking him, though, is simple - I just DON't like him! I've seen this guy in other things, and I think he's bland, boring and utterly without charm. The Doctor needs to be witty and dynamic and intense, and this guy has all the charisma of a wet blanket. So yes, while I do think I have valid concerns for thinking he might be too old for the role, it's certainly not my only one. If they'd cast someone I actually liked around the same age or even older - like Alan Rickman or Hugh Laurie - I could have gotten behind that decision, because I would have had faith in their ability to do the role justice. I'm not saying I would have preferred someone as young as Matt Smith, either - I can recognise that his talent made him an exception - but I think that as a generalistion, someone in their thirties or early forties would have been better to bring the right sort of energy to the character.

I also wasn't that thrilled with the last series - Steven Moffat has been changing the show in ways that directly conflict with the original canon. He's trying to remake the show in his own image, without having any respect for the soure material, and I haven't liked the changes he's been making. Clara was completely bland with no personality, and the gaping plotholes have been getting worse. With a lead actor and lead writer I don't like, I don't have much hope for where the show is headed, so I'd rather leave the fandom now, with good memories, rather than watch it be run into the ground.

I'll watch the Fiftieth, but not the Christmas special - that way I won't have to watch my favourite Doctor die. Which seems a little silly, but this way I can skip the PC run entirely and pick up with the next guy.

I do have a theory, though, that may seem rather controversial. Moffat is known for playing with fan expectations, and there is so much about PC that just doesn't seem right for the role, that I think there's a chance it might all be a huge fake out. As in, Moffat could be using this guy as a scapegoat to divert media attention, so when the real Twelfth Doctor is revealed post-regeneration it will be a huge surprise. There's no reason he can't do it - it isn't a crime to lie to the media - and there's no way a spoiler this big wouldn't be leaked, unless reporters thought there was nothing to look for because all relevant information was already out in the open. It would be a very Moffat move and I'm hoping it's the case.

Anyway, what it got down to was me daring to express an unpopular opinion to a generalised opposition - making a point not to attack anyone directly - and ending up with a slew of hostile comments in the thread. So, apparently it's wrong to have an opinion at all, unless you conform to popular thought, as sanctioned by those who have appointed themselves the popular ones. Whatever the f*&%. Some people decided to make it really personal, and chucked hissy little woe-is-me tantrums because I called them on their bullshit when they started spouting clearly erroneous facts to back up their opinions. Okay, say what you like, but get your facts straight - have you even watched the show? I may have accused a few people of being attention-seeking little bitches - and they promptly "threatened" to boycott the page, because I refused to coddle their fragile little feelings. They claimed I was attacking them (um, who are you?) after I expressly stated that I didn't want to make it personal and I just wanted to put out there how I was disappointed in the fandom in general.

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

I didn't recall much about Cressida either, though I expected her to be older. But she was the camerawoman/director who shot all the promos in District 13 apparently. (Which weirdly and suddenly makes me want Gale/Cressida fic...)

I like Ben. He was also quite good as Superman/George Reeves in Hollywoodland. And he does have the whole cleft chin thing going on.

[12-12-12.livejournal.com]

I'm always in favor of Natalie Dormer getting ALL THE THINGS. So yay! :D

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Same here!

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

lol I don't remember Cressida either but I will accept more Natalie Dormer.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Always.

[just-shai.livejournal.com]

I'm rather done with DC until they put Wonder Woman (Or Birds of Prey, or ANY female lead) on the big screen. Not that Marvel has done much better in that department, but at least Avengers had Natasha. Also, Iron Pepper.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Mmmmm, Natasha, fiercest Natasha.

[qualapec.livejournal.com]

I think it's an odd choice, but Man of Steel was good so I'll give it a chance. I think WB/DC/Nolan knows they can't afford to slip up when they're competing with Avengers: Age of Ultron, so my hope is that Affleck did something to impress them.

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

And I don't think that Afflect is who they'd choose if they were doing another grittier than thou batman, so, *fingers crossed*

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

i haven't forgiven daredevil, i suppose. i don't think he has the presence for the role but ultimately, i'm not happy with man of steel either, so i guess. dc, you make me tired.

My mom hasn't either. We we talking Batman casting and DCU in general, and she's still bitter we ended up watching Daredevil instead of going to Shakespeare in the park (the following night the play was canceled due to weather) and after I was trying to explain what's going on in DC and some stuff about the Nolan Batman's and she's like, 'that sucks.' Me: 'Everyone hates dc.'

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

Exactly this. Like, I feel like if DC has any successes with getting the tone of the superhero movie right at the same time the movie had some quality to it, people would be more chill about this. Plus, I actually feel kinda bad for Afflect; it can't be fun to have pretty much everyone going 'BOOOOOOO.'

[lady-with-cats.livejournal.com]

by a weird confluence of ideas in this post i just imagined natalie dormer cast as wonder woman. what a wonderful world...

[redbrunja.livejournal.com]

No, no, Wonder Woman should NOT be played by a slight blonde!

[lady-with-cats.livejournal.com]

i always see natalie dormer in her tudor-era hair (even though i do know she's a blonde irl). my apologies, i don't know much about wonder woman. do you have any particular castings you like?

[mistaria.livejournal.com]

I don't dislike Ben Affleck but I don't see him as Bruce AT ALL. So overall disappointed. Yay for Natalie Dormer though!